The Jets selected goaltender Bob Essensa in the fourth round of the 1983 Entry Draft and after starring at Michigan State University, he made his Jets debut late in the 1988-1989 season. Over the course of the next five seasons, he went on to establish himself as an upper-echelon NHL goaltender and gave the Jets some stability in goal that they hadn't enjoyed since entering the NHL. When the Jets traded him to the Detroit Red Wings late in the 1993-1994 season, his marks for games played by a goaltender and wins were second in Jets' history to Joe Daley and his 14 regular season shutouts stood as a franchise record. After leaving Detroit, he played for the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, along with the relocated Jets' franchise in Arizona and retired from hockey following the 2001-2002 season.